By ASSOCIATED PRESS
22/04/2010 17:10
Jerusalem Post
US sec. of state says Damascus envoy gives Washington insight.TALLINN, Estonia — The Obama administration is still committed to improving relations with Syria despite its "deeply troubling" moves to aid Hizbullah in neighboring Lebanon, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday.
Clinton, speaking at a news conference before the opening of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in this Baltic capital, said the administration has concluded that the benefits of sending a US ambassador to Damascus — after a five-year absence — outweigh the costs.
"The larger question as to what the United States will do with respect to Syria is one we've spent a lot of time considering and debating inside the administration," she said. "Where we are as of today is that we believe it is important to continue the process to return an ambassador; this is not some kind of reward for the Syrians and the actions they take that are deeply disturbing."
Clinton, speaking at a news conference before the opening of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in this Baltic capital, said the administration has concluded that the benefits of sending a US ambassador to Damascus — after a five-year absence — outweigh the costs.
"The larger question as to what the United States will do with respect to Syria is one we've spent a lot of time considering and debating inside the administration," she said. "Where we are as of today is that we believe it is important to continue the process to return an ambassador; this is not some kind of reward for the Syrians and the actions they take that are deeply disturbing."
She said the presence of an ambassador gives Washington a better insight into what is happening in Damascus.
"We have a long list of areas that we have discussed with the Syrians and we intend to continue pushing our concerns, and we think having an ambassador there adds to the ability to convey that message strongly and hopefully influence behavior in Syria," she said.
Senators threaten to hold up confirmation
Some US senators are threatening to hold up the confirmation of the administration's choice for US ambassador to Syria — career diplomat Robert Ford — because of unconfirmed reports that Syria was transferring Scud missiles to Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Clinton did not confirm the reports. Without mentioning Scuds or Iran, which many believe is the source of the missiles, she described the situation in a way that strongly suggested that the US does not believe Scuds have been transferred to Hizbullah yet.
Clinton referred to "these stories that do suggest there has been some transfer of weapons technology into Syria with the potential purpose of then later transferring it to Hizbullah inside Syria." Pressed to say whether she meant that the Scuds in Syria had originated in Iran, she replied, "I just said that we have expressed our concern about that."
Israel has accused Syria of providing the group with Scuds. A Scud has a far longer range and can carry a much bigger warhead than the rockets Hizbullah has used in the past, and could reach anywhere in Israel from terrorist bases in southern Lebanon. Syria has denied the charge, as has Lebanon's Western-backed prime minister.
"We have a long list of areas that we have discussed with the Syrians and we intend to continue pushing our concerns, and we think having an ambassador there adds to the ability to convey that message strongly and hopefully influence behavior in Syria," she said.
Senators threaten to hold up confirmation
Some US senators are threatening to hold up the confirmation of the administration's choice for US ambassador to Syria — career diplomat Robert Ford — because of unconfirmed reports that Syria was transferring Scud missiles to Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Clinton did not confirm the reports. Without mentioning Scuds or Iran, which many believe is the source of the missiles, she described the situation in a way that strongly suggested that the US does not believe Scuds have been transferred to Hizbullah yet.
Clinton referred to "these stories that do suggest there has been some transfer of weapons technology into Syria with the potential purpose of then later transferring it to Hizbullah inside Syria." Pressed to say whether she meant that the Scuds in Syria had originated in Iran, she replied, "I just said that we have expressed our concern about that."
Israel has accused Syria of providing the group with Scuds. A Scud has a far longer range and can carry a much bigger warhead than the rockets Hizbullah has used in the past, and could reach anywhere in Israel from terrorist bases in southern Lebanon. Syria has denied the charge, as has Lebanon's Western-backed prime minister.
Note: Dear Hillary, ... Following Obama's leadership, it appears that no matter the cost, no matter the ties Syria has with Iran and Hezibollah, you would prefer to trust your instincts (and Obama's willingness) to continue a down-ward path to destruction by speaking to the very enemies of Israel. Your "doubts" as to the truthfulness of Israel's Middle East intelligence is beyond insulting - to Israel, first, and to the United States of America. The Senators should not only hold up confirmation for an ambassador to Syria, but also demand to know what "benefits" the U.S. will gain by getting in bed with terrorists.
and, here is another view, from NoahDavidSimon's blogspot.com:
Hillary pushes for diplomacy as Syria also builds Nukes
Clinton, speaking at a news conference before the opening of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in this Baltic capital, said the administration has concluded that the benefits of sending a US ambassador to Damascus — after a five-year absence — outweigh the costs. via jpost.com By ASSOCIATED PRESS 22/04/2010 17:10
For nearly two years, Syria has refused to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s investigation of a suspected nuclear reactor that was destroyed by Israel in September 2007. Now the IAEA may request a rare “special inspection” of Syrian sites, making the country’s nuclear defiance the international community’s main point of contention with Damascus -- eclipsing even the investigation into Syrian officials’ involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri.via foreignaffairs.com
Does anyone seriously think that the US--or the West in general--will be any more effective in stopping Syria's nuclear program than they have been in controlling Iran's? Syria has been playing the West longer than Iran has, and the very fact that the US is considering sending an ambassador to the country that assassinated Hariri and recently provided Scuds to Hizbollah, shows that Syria is still at the top of its game.via daledamos.blogspot.com
the Obama Administration sees a potential friend?
The Obama administration is still committed to improving relations with Syria despite its "deeply troubling" moves to aid Hizbullah in neighboring Lebanon, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday.
Lee Smith, author of The Strong Horse: Power, Politics, and the Clash of Arab Civilizationswrites in an article for Tablet that Syria
occupies a unique position in U.S. policymaking circles: Syria kills Americans and our allies, but its strategic significance pales in comparison to China, Russia, and Iran, which makes it a second- or even third-tier issue.
